Some time ago I had the pleasure of joining the BYU-Idaho Collegiate Singers on their annual tour. We traveled mostly north, visiting cities in Montana, and then heading west to the Seattle area, stopping at high schools and performance halls all along the way. While we stayed in Seattle, I had the privilege of visiting a retired American warship. In order to get to the dock where the ship was stationed for tourists to visit we had to travel by ferry. Being from the desert land of Utah I had never had occasion to travel on a ferry before. I spent much of the trip on the side deck of the boat watching the scenery as we moved quickly across the water.
A day or two earlier I had had a conversation with one of my good friends about the Holy Ghost and the influences of the world, and music in particular, on our ability to hear and understand the still small voice. I was pondering our conversation and my own thoughts about divine communication as I watched the reflection of the sun in the water. The day was a calm day, and the water looked like it would give us a smooth journey. As we traveled I noticed that some areas of the water's surface remained very smooth, while other areas of the surface were slightly agitated. In the calmest areas of the water, the reflection of the sun was a clear circle of pinpointed light, without much distortion. In the areas where the surface of the water was disturbed the light from the sun was refracted in a million different ways, leaving no clear image of the original source of light.
As I rested on the guardrail of the ferry looking into the water and pondering, I realized that what I was seeing in the water was analogous to what happens in our own lives. Many saints are much like the water we were crossing. A cursory glance at the conditions of the water, and all appears to be well. No large waves to be worried about, no storm clouds overhead to cause problems. All looks right and ideal for sailing. But while crossing the water, it was clear that not all was as calm and perfect as it appeared from a distance.
Members of Christ's restored church have the privilege of basking in the Light of the Holy Ghost. We enjoy its light and warmth, yet too often we permit the surface of our metaphorical water to be disturbed a little here and a little there, blurring the otherwise clear and direct influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives. We create ripples in our water by participating in off color conversations, listening to less than wholesome music and other media, being over zealous, or when we permit any of our vices, big or small, to continue to be a part of our lives. Even good things, like a positive song, can interfere with our ability to recognize and understand the light of the Holy Ghost. The Brethren have taught that music can "dull your spiritual sensitivity by its tempo, beat, loudness, lyrics, or intensity" (Missionary Handbook).
Take time today to pause a few times, and ask yourself, "Am I prepared to receive and understand light and instruction from the Holy Ghost? If He spoke now could I hear Him?" Are there things you need to quiet in order to create a condition of stillness in yourself?
Let us learn to live so that we may see the fulfillment of the promise that if ye "receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:5).
Nov 1, 2015
Oct 10, 2015
Safety in the Flock of the Good Shepherd
The rigors of being a full-time music major on a university campus leaves little in the way of time for developing an awareness of the political, social and economic goings on in the wider world outside my happy isolation in the music building. In spite of time restraints placed on me by my present circumstances, (which I understand will only get worse,) I have striven to remain as aware as I may of national and world events, and it's obvious that the speed at which the world is descending into the depravity of an atheistic amorality is accelerating at an exponential rate. Evil which once was uncommon and difficult to find is now aggressively pervasive, even smothering.
Concerned as I am about this unhappy reality, I feel no fear. I am not afraid of what lies ahead. I am a witness of the reality and power of the peace promised by Christ, of whom I bear testimony. "My peace I give unto you" He said. "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:16) The peace of Christ is as a refuge and a shield. "[For] they shall be gathered into the garners... Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them. But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day." (Alma 26:5-8)
Accentuated by the dual realities of increasing evil and increasing manifestations of the peace and power of Christ is the need to choose the side on which you will stand. As the chasm grows the illusion of straddling both sides of the fence will become an increasing impossibility. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:13) Yet there remain "many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—" (D&C 123:12) Thus, it becomes incumbent on those who know and have to share with those who don't know and don't have.
The Lord taught His method for reaching souls when He revealed to the saints, "Behold, and lo, I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened in the regions round about... Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls." (D&C 100:3-4)
My family received a letter from my sister who is serving abroad on a mission. In that letter she wrote, "Here, absolutely everything [in the ward] has to do with missionary work, right down to the primary. At home I can remember maybe hearing of one baptism in our ward, and I never really knew who the missionaries were who were assigned to our ward. [It is so easy to get busy and be self-absorbed and] not really [feel] concerned about the well being of my neighbors."
I remember having those same feelings as a missionary; the shocking realization that back home there were lost souls and broken lives right around the corner; children of God all around me who were not enjoying the blessings of the gospel. I never saw them; never thought about them as being in need, or considered I had any responsibility to reach out to them and offer help. It wasn't until I was across the continent serving as a missionary that I, like the "prodigal son who finally 'came to himself', the first rays of recognition [helping me] begin to see "things as they really are..." (Repentance, Neal A. Maxwell; Oct 1991 General Conference). I still remember the day I realized that I hadn't really ever done anything to share the gospel with my neighbors. I sorrowed that I had seen so little of the need around me, and done so little to meet it. I committed that day to be better, to do better, and to serve more.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are never anywhere by accident. The Lord said, "I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls. Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say." (D&C 100:4-6)
"From every man, young and old... I ask for a stronger and more devoted voice, a voice not only against evil and him who is the personification of it, but a voice for good, a voice for the gospel, a voice for God... Unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders in the lives of those “who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” (We Are All Enlisted, Jeffery R. Holland; Oct. 2011 General Conference).
There is safety in the flock of the Good Shepherd. Let us reach out and love and serve and bring in as many as we can.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."
-Psalm 23
Concerned as I am about this unhappy reality, I feel no fear. I am not afraid of what lies ahead. I am a witness of the reality and power of the peace promised by Christ, of whom I bear testimony. "My peace I give unto you" He said. "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:16) The peace of Christ is as a refuge and a shield. "[For] they shall be gathered into the garners... Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them. But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day." (Alma 26:5-8)
Accentuated by the dual realities of increasing evil and increasing manifestations of the peace and power of Christ is the need to choose the side on which you will stand. As the chasm grows the illusion of straddling both sides of the fence will become an increasing impossibility. "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16:13) Yet there remain "many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—" (D&C 123:12) Thus, it becomes incumbent on those who know and have to share with those who don't know and don't have.
The Lord taught His method for reaching souls when He revealed to the saints, "Behold, and lo, I have much people in this place, in the regions round about; and an effectual door shall be opened in the regions round about... Therefore, I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls." (D&C 100:3-4)
My family received a letter from my sister who is serving abroad on a mission. In that letter she wrote, "Here, absolutely everything [in the ward] has to do with missionary work, right down to the primary. At home I can remember maybe hearing of one baptism in our ward, and I never really knew who the missionaries were who were assigned to our ward. [It is so easy to get busy and be self-absorbed and] not really [feel] concerned about the well being of my neighbors."
I remember having those same feelings as a missionary; the shocking realization that back home there were lost souls and broken lives right around the corner; children of God all around me who were not enjoying the blessings of the gospel. I never saw them; never thought about them as being in need, or considered I had any responsibility to reach out to them and offer help. It wasn't until I was across the continent serving as a missionary that I, like the "prodigal son who finally 'came to himself', the first rays of recognition [helping me] begin to see "things as they really are..." (Repentance, Neal A. Maxwell; Oct 1991 General Conference). I still remember the day I realized that I hadn't really ever done anything to share the gospel with my neighbors. I sorrowed that I had seen so little of the need around me, and done so little to meet it. I committed that day to be better, to do better, and to serve more.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are never anywhere by accident. The Lord said, "I, the Lord, have suffered you to come unto this place; for thus it was expedient in me for the salvation of souls. Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say." (D&C 100:4-6)
"From every man, young and old... I ask for a stronger and more devoted voice, a voice not only against evil and him who is the personification of it, but a voice for good, a voice for the gospel, a voice for God... Unbind your tongues and watch your words work wonders in the lives of those “who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” (We Are All Enlisted, Jeffery R. Holland; Oct. 2011 General Conference).
There is safety in the flock of the Good Shepherd. Let us reach out and love and serve and bring in as many as we can.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."
-Psalm 23
Aug 7, 2015
Christmas Now
We need a little Christmas.
I admit that in making such a statement, I run the considerable risk of being accused of hypocrisy, mine being among the first and loudest voices raised in objection to Christmas trees, decorations and music showing up before Thanksgiving. But as I watch the world spin ever faster on its runaway course, which can lead only to sorrow, hardship and the immutable justice of an offended God, I find myself thinking, we need a little Christmas. We need it from the first of January to the last of December. Not the lights, or the wrappings, or the presents we carefully collect and place in the shadow of the pines; not the ham roasting in the oven, or the mashed potatoes and gravy; not a blanket of snow, or stockings hanging over a gently glowing fire. These things do not a Christmas make.
The Spirit of Christ, this is what makes Christmas. It's the giving and the gratitude. It's the re-prioritizing of ones' life so that family and friends are, at least for a short while, more important than ones' own plans and ambitions. It's the season when, more than at any other time, the differences of race and culture, politics and religion, wealth and poverty are swept aside by that sweet Spirit which testifies and ''beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.'' (Romans 8:16) This is what we need more of. More remembering who I am. More of knowing who you are. More of remembering who He is. More of doing what He did.
And what did He do? He offered Himself, totally and unreservedly, "[giving] himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God" (Eph. 5:2). He taught truth, for "the truth is in Jesus" (Eph. 4:21) and feared not what men might do. No price was too great for Him. No pain beyond His willingness to endure. No humiliation too abject. There was no temptation or trial, pain or politics, beating or betrayal that could dissuaded Him from His course. "I have trodden the winepress alone;" Jesus said, "and of the people there was none with me." (Isaiah 63:3)
And why did He do it? So that He might be our Advocate. "Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him— Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." (D&C 45:3-5)
Why did He do it? "...because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel." (Jeffery R. Holland None Were With Him April 2009 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Yes. We need Christ-mas right now. More sacrificing of self, more helping others. More turning from sin and moving toward God. More obedience and less grumbling. More faith, power and miracles instead of doubt, helplessness and impossible situations. More determination to stay the course, to stand up and stand out in living and proclaiming truth and righteousness instead of acquiescing to the easy, popular, cheap and destructive fun which society is not only content to wallow in, but aggressively promotes. More forgiveness for failings, and turning of the other cheek. More repentance and reform. More trust in His word.
"I, even I, am he that comforteth you:" said Christ to Isaiah, "who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; .... I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people." (Isaiah 51:12-16)
"Awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled. Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot." (Moroni 10:31-33)
Yes. We need a Christ-mas now.
I admit that in making such a statement, I run the considerable risk of being accused of hypocrisy, mine being among the first and loudest voices raised in objection to Christmas trees, decorations and music showing up before Thanksgiving. But as I watch the world spin ever faster on its runaway course, which can lead only to sorrow, hardship and the immutable justice of an offended God, I find myself thinking, we need a little Christmas. We need it from the first of January to the last of December. Not the lights, or the wrappings, or the presents we carefully collect and place in the shadow of the pines; not the ham roasting in the oven, or the mashed potatoes and gravy; not a blanket of snow, or stockings hanging over a gently glowing fire. These things do not a Christmas make.
The Spirit of Christ, this is what makes Christmas. It's the giving and the gratitude. It's the re-prioritizing of ones' life so that family and friends are, at least for a short while, more important than ones' own plans and ambitions. It's the season when, more than at any other time, the differences of race and culture, politics and religion, wealth and poverty are swept aside by that sweet Spirit which testifies and ''beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.'' (Romans 8:16) This is what we need more of. More remembering who I am. More of knowing who you are. More of remembering who He is. More of doing what He did.
And what did He do? He offered Himself, totally and unreservedly, "[giving] himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God" (Eph. 5:2). He taught truth, for "the truth is in Jesus" (Eph. 4:21) and feared not what men might do. No price was too great for Him. No pain beyond His willingness to endure. No humiliation too abject. There was no temptation or trial, pain or politics, beating or betrayal that could dissuaded Him from His course. "I have trodden the winepress alone;" Jesus said, "and of the people there was none with me." (Isaiah 63:3)
And why did He do it? So that He might be our Advocate. "Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him— Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." (D&C 45:3-5)
Why did He do it? "...because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel." (Jeffery R. Holland None Were With Him April 2009 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Yes. We need Christ-mas right now. More sacrificing of self, more helping others. More turning from sin and moving toward God. More obedience and less grumbling. More faith, power and miracles instead of doubt, helplessness and impossible situations. More determination to stay the course, to stand up and stand out in living and proclaiming truth and righteousness instead of acquiescing to the easy, popular, cheap and destructive fun which society is not only content to wallow in, but aggressively promotes. More forgiveness for failings, and turning of the other cheek. More repentance and reform. More trust in His word.
"I, even I, am he that comforteth you:" said Christ to Isaiah, "who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; .... I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people." (Isaiah 51:12-16)
"Awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled. Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot." (Moroni 10:31-33)
Yes. We need a Christ-mas now.
Jun 21, 2015
Wrought By Love
After having conversations with a number of people, over the course of several months, on the subject of the Atonement of Christ, and finding that in nearly every case there is either lack of time or lack of interest, it never seeming possible to fully explore the subject in a discussion, I have felt inclined to carefully produce all of my thoughts on the subject here.
Before I begin, I acknowledge my immaturity in gospel understanding in general, and of the Atonement (which is largely incomprehensible to the veiled mind) in particular. My intent is neither to present a scholarly or exhaustive explanation of the Atonement, nor to speak authoritatively, but rather to put down, in writing, those things which I have gleaned through study and prayer. You should also know that I am writing as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and therefore hold the words of the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and of modern prophets and apostles in the aforementioned church, in equal esteem with the words of the ancient prophets whose words are recorded in the Old and New Testaments.
The knowledge and testimony I have gained of these things are, to me, most sacred; second only to my witness of the divinity and power of that Jesus which is called Christ. What I share, I share in humility, gratitude, reverence, and respect.
The Atonement of Christ is the most profound principle of the revealed gospel. As such, it has greater power to bless and strengthen us than any other doctrine or principle revealed to the saints. The more about it we understand, the more power, faith, and determination we have to do right things and to follow in the footsteps of the Master. Why? Because “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior... That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel"; (Boyd K. Packer “Little Children,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 17).
In seeking to explain the way the Atonement works some have thought that what Christ was required to do was to meet a 'suffering quota'; that there was 'X' amount of suffering given in payment for 'X' amount of sinning. In other words, it is sometimes supposed that for Christ to "pay the price of sin" (a nonscriptural phrase) He literally took upon Himself the punishment which we ourselves would have to suffer if we should fail to meet the requirement to inherit Eternal Life in the Kingdom of God. The scriptures plainly teach that this is not how the Savior atoned for our sins. To assume that the Atonement was merely the fulfilling of the law of quid pro quo is demonstrative of a failure to understand the nature of the Law, Justice and Mercy, and the God we worship.
What is the Law? The Law with which we are dealing was best described by Paul when he wrote to the Galations: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (italics added for emphasis) (Gal 5:19-21) Or as King Benjamin explained "...the natural man is an enemy to God..." (Mosiah 3:19) Those who yield to the natural man and do the works of the flesh shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the "law [which is] given, and [the] punishment affixed" to the law. (Alma 42:22) Eternal separation from Father in Heaven is the consequence of sin. "[For] no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever." (1 Ne 10:21) "For, behold, I [God] am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore— Eternal punishment is God’s punishment. Endless punishment is God’s punishment. (D&C 19:10-12) "For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance;" (D&C 1:31).
Having established what the law is, eternal separation from the Father and forfeiture of an inheritance in the celestial kingdom as joint heirs with Christ of all the Father hath, it becomes increasingly clear that it was an impossibility for the Savior to have actually paid the same price of sin which we will have to pay if we fail to qualify for eternal life. Were this so, Christ should have gone to hell in our place and remained there forever and ever, this being the same fate we would face. But we know, and testify, that this is not so. He is the risen Lord; "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Rev 19:16). He, it was, who said "Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool," (Acts 7:49) and "he shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev 11:15) If not "pay the price of sin", as we are so wont to say, what exactly did He do? To understand the answer to this, it is necessary to first establish some truths about the nature of the workings of God and the universe we live in.
The Nature of Our Spiritual and Physical Bodies
The soul of man, which is the spirit and the body joined together (D&C 88:15), is made up of two substantive elements: "things to act and things to be acted upon." (2 Ne 2:14) Housed within our tabernacles of flesh (D&C 93:4) resides a spirit whose lineage and birthright are divine, and "each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny." (The Family: A Proclamation to the World) Our spirits are defined in the revelations as intelligences. (Abr. 3:21-22) The materials which make up our physical bodies are called element (D&C 93:33&35) or matter (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7 p. 2). That which acts is called intelligence, (D&C 93:29-30) "and matter is capacitated to receive intelligence." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7 p. 2) And here is part of the mystery of creation: the bonding of intelligence with element. So it is with all of creation. "For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth." (Moses 3:5) And, "verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual..." (D&C 29:34)
We know from the prophetic records that the intelligences are organized and graded, and some elements receive greater intelligence, and some receive less. (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7 p. 3) The greatest intelligences, the "noble and great ones", were given spirit bodies in the image of God, this being their first estate. Those who kept their first estate were afforded an opportunity to receive a second and third estate. (Abr. 3:21-28) Lesser bodies receive lesser intelligences, and greater bodies receive greater intelligences. (1 Cor 15:38-39; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7 p. 3) All matter which has part in this creation, has bonded to it an intelligence appropriate to the need and ability of the physical tabernacle it is to inhabit, and "God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds." (1 Cor 15:38-39)
The Workings of God
In this mortal existence, when we want something to move or change, we inflict force upon it. The engine of a vehicle moves because an explosion in the engine forces the piston to move, which in turn forces other things to move, which at length force the axle to rotate and the wheels to turn. But God does not work by force. He talks to things, and they honor and obey Him. (D&C 29:36) Remember the scriptural depiction of the creation: "And the Gods ordered, saying: Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the earth come up dry; and it was so as they ordered; And the Gods pronounced the dry land, Earth; and the gathering together of the waters, pronounced they, Great Waters; and the Gods saw that they were obeyed. (italics added) (Abr. 4:9-10) "And the Gods organized the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; with the lesser light they set the stars also; And the Gods set them in the expanse of the heavens, to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to cause to divide the light from the darkness. And the Gods watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed." (italics added) (Abr. 4:16-18; see also Abr. 4:7,21,25)
Dirt doesn't have the capacity to obey if it is just "stuff". But all matter caught up in creation has a particle of intelligence assigned to it, and this intelligent matter has the capacity to act; and thus they obey. Once we understand this, much of the mystery is gone out of the miracles performed by the faithful in all dispensations. Mary asked Jesus to help when the wedding feast ran out of wine. After asking for pots of water to be brought to Him, Jesus talked to the intelligences in the elements which made up the water and asked them to adjust their organization so they would become wine. In obeyence to the will of the Son of God, the water reorganized itself, adjusting the size, shape, and nature of it's atoms and molecules. And suddenly, instead of water there was wine, fine wine at that. By this same principle, God organized the earth and all things which are in it; (Abr 3:24) and by it men and women of faith move mountains, turn away rivers, cause the lame to walk, the blind to see, and the deaf to hear "by the power of the word of God which was in them." (4 Ne 1:30, italics added for emphasis) Parenthetically speaking, I find it a delightful coincidence that those who believe in creation by the hand of God believe in an "intelligent design."
The Lord revealed a profound, and not widely understood, priesthood principle to Joseph Smith in the 29th section of the Doctrine and Covenants when He explained "behold, the devil was before Adam, for he (the devil) rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; (italics added for emphasis). The source of God's power is honor. Among the words used to define honor are: fulfill, observe, keep, obey, heed, follow, carry out, discharge, implement, execute... etc. All of creation honors and obeys our Father in Heaven. Why? Because He is the perfect Arbiter of all things, the perfect keeper of eternal law, perfectly just, and universally and infinitely loving of all His creations. He is honored because all of intelligent creation has absolute confidence in Him to perfectly administer justice and uphold eternal truth. Consider the implications of what God is saying when He tells us "[I] delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth..." (D&C 76:5, italics added.)
Bound By Law
While we know that God has all power in heaven and in earth, we must also remember that He is a God of Law, and that He does not violate these laws. (D&C 1:38) Book of Mormon prophets taught that it is theoretically possible for God to fall. (see Alma 42:13, 23, 25; Morm 9:19) He is not going to, but how could this be possible? How could He lose His power?
If Father were to sweep us back into the safety of His presence after passing through this life where "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23), He would thwart the law of justice, and also violate the agency of man, causing the sense of justice in all intelligences to be pricked. They would lose confidence in Him and no longer honor Him as a perfect being. There would follow the rapid disintegration of all organized and created things into chaos. It was this principle, that Lehi was teaching his son Jacob when he explained, "if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away. And now... I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon." (2 Nephi 2:13-14) The Father could not bring us back to Him this way and still uphold eternal law and maintain divinity and creation. There needed to be a plan which was not based on either the law or on justice, for by neither can any man be saved. (Gal 2:16; 2 Ne 2:5)
The Need for a Savior
The Father could not send us to this mortal realm, where we would gain needed experience and progression, and simultaneously be the means of bringing us back from it. He asked for someone who would be willing to be a Savior for His children who would venture into mortality. He asked for one who would live a perfect, sinless life, and then would be willing to be so terribly tortured and experience so much agony, in His role as the Messiah, for no other reason than that He loved us, that the sense of mercy and compassion in every intelligence would be awakened sufficient to overcome the demands of justice in every intelligence infinitely and eternally. This is what Amulek taught to the Zoramites. He explained that there must be a great and last sacrifice, "and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance." (Alma 34:14-15, italics added for emphasis.) In other words, through His suffering He gained power to touch the heart of compassion in every intelligence across all the vastness of space, for all time and all eternity, sufficient to overcome the demand for justice and allow Him to extend mercy and forgiveness to those who will repent. "And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety." (Alma 34:16)
It was Jesus Christ, our elder Brother, the First Born Son of the Father, who volunteered and was chosen for this assignment. He accomplished that greatest of all tasks; and He did it for none other reason than that He loved His Father and He loved us. And thus He says to us "Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him— Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life." (D&C 45:3-5)
Wrought By Love
After coming to understand that the atonement was wrought and works only by the power of the love of Christ, I understood and appreciated the following scripture passage with new eyes.
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail— But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen." (Moroni 7:46-48)
Truly, "We love him, because he first loved us" with that love which gave Him power to redeem. (1 John 4:19)
Let me now relate a story which demonstrates how the bowels of mercy can overcome the demand for justice. The story I will relate was shared by Cleon Skousen in an address he gave to a mission conference. The address is recorded and published as 'A Personal Search for the Meaning of the Atonement.' For clarity and brevity, I shall here only paraphrase what was shared in that meeting.
A young man assigned to sentry duty during the civil war fell asleep at his post. That very day the opposing forces moved against the young man's regiment. Without warning from the sleeping young man, the regiment suffered heavy casualties, losing an entire flank of men, including some of the young man's closest associates. But he survived. He was court martialed, and sentenced to be executed. President Lincoln, who was known as an exceptionally forgiving President, frequently pardoning young men during war time, was prepared to sign this young man's death sentence. Then the boy's mother appears on the scene. She approached the President directly and explained to him that when the war started she had a husband and six sons; that first she lost her husband to the war, and then one by one she lost five of her sons. The man condemned to die was all she had left. She asked President Lincoln if he would spare her son, not for the boy's sake, but for her sake. President Lincoln said, "For your sake, little mother, I will spare him."
This is what has happened for us. Christ's power to save is real. He shall stand as advocate for us before the Father and all creation, and He shall plead for those who have covenanted with Him. And Christ shall prevail; His suffering and death giving Him such persuasive power that the sense of compassion and mercy shall be awakened in all things, justice shall be assuaged, and all thing shall say, as it were, "This man, or this woman, whom You speak for, was not perfect and of their own merit do not deserve to come unto heaven; but if they mean that much to You, that You would go through all you did for them, for Your sake let them come up." And herein is revealed the great miracle of the atonement. Thanks be to God! For "in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way" (Ether 12:11) by which we may be saved; not by law, but by love.
Having worked all of this out, I would be remiss if I failed to address what the Brethren have termed the "enabling power of the Atonement;" for it is also by Christ's power to grant mercy that we receive that strengthening and enabling help from Him.
The Book of Mormon prophet Alma taught that "[Christ] shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me." (Alma 7:11-13)
Christ experienced everything which a person can suffer, and knows perfectly how to bless and succor His people if they will come unto Him. As our mediator with the Father, Christ has power to extend the rewards of justice to us in those things wherein we have been wronged. But He also has power to extend help to us when we don't merit it. When justice would require his brutal, exacting price of us, Christ has power to overcome those demands and extend mercy, help, and blessings. That same power which allows Him to forgive sin also allows Him to send help when we do not deserve it, and without which we could not prepare to return to God. The atonement, therefore, is all encompassing in it's scope, granting power to Christ to bless and heal those who deserve it and those who don't. Thus, He has become our perfect, loving and merciful Savior, ready to lift us from the sorrows of the world, and free us from sin and death. (1 Cor 15:55-57; Matt 5:45)
I have come to know for myself, independent of any earthly force, persuasion, study or instruction, that Jesus is the Christ. He has manifest Himself unto me, by the power of the Holy Ghost, and I witness that He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. "Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities." (Psalm 130:7-8) Because of Jesus Christ I know that "goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." (Psalm 23:6)
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